Pilita Corrales

Pilar "Pilita" Garrido Corrales (August 22, 1937 – April 12, 2025) was a Filipina singer, actress and comedian. She was known for her distinctive backbend<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref> when singing and was popularly referred to as the "Greatest singer in the Philippines"<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and "Asia's Queen of Songs" for her vocal style and longevity.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Corrales recorded 135 albums throughout her six-decade career.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> Her recordings were mainly in English and Filipino, while on occasion she recorded songs in Spanish and Cebuano.<ref name=":0" /> Lauded for her sweet voice and iconic singing style,<ref name=":1" /> Corrales was one of the first superstars in the Philippines and became one of the first female artists to reach the top of the Australian pop charts.<ref name=":2" /> In 1963, her single "A Million Thanks to You" became one of few songs by a local artist to reach the number one position on the "Hits of the World" listing for the Philippines compiled by Billboard.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> "A Million Thanks to You" and other signature hits by Corrales, including "Kapantay ay Langit", have since become standards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She was a recipient of the prestigious 'Lifetime Achievement Award' by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) for introducing Filipino musical artistry to a global audience.<ref name=":0" />

Her success would later extend to film and television, where her show An Evening with Pilita is considered as one of the standardsTemplate:Clarify in Philippine broadcasting history.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Early life

Pilar Corrales was born in Lahug, Cebu City on August 22, 1937, to José Corrales de Zaragoza and María Garrido Manzano.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="birth">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":6">Template:Cite news</ref> The second of six siblings,<ref name=":0" /> she grew up in a "conservative [and] affluent home"<ref name=":5">Template:Cite web</ref> in Cebu City.<ref name=":3" /> Her "upper-class and mestizo Spanish" family speaking primarily Cebuano, with Spanish being her "second mother tongue".<ref name=":3">Template:Cite book</ref> Her father José Corrales is a Spanish mestizo from Ermita, Manila and her mother Maria Garrido is a Spanish immigrant from Granada.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Her cousin, Annie Corrales, was Miss Philippines in 1957 and married businessman Eddie Woolbright.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> After completing her studies at Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepción in Cebu, she began attending Colegio Mayor de Padre Poveda, a finishing school in Spain, in 1955,<ref name=":7">Template:Cite news</ref> one of the first Cebuanas to do so.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She returned to the Philippines following her father's death from a heart attack in 1956.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":7" /> With the loss of her father's income, her mother began taking in boarders, and Corrales took a secretarial course. Corrales said that had her father not died when he did, she never would have become a singer.<ref name=":7" />

Career

Template:Sources Corrales' "vocal production [was] medial rather than frontal...with a consistent use of head resonation," resulting in a "rounded, covered quality rather than a bright timbre". Her vocal delivery was "on pitch with a notable absence of slides, glides, or bending the pitch," and she used vibrato "for any duration longer than a quarter note".<ref name=":3" /> She maintained her vocal technique across songs of different genres; for example, her performances of "Ang dalagang Pilipina" were not sung in the song's traditional bel canto style.<ref name=":3" />

Corrales recorded songs in Spanish in the early 1960s and songs in English, Tagalog, and Cebuano during the 1970s under Vicor Music Corporation.

In Australia

In 1958, Corrales began her recording career after arriving in Australia for a brief period.<ref name=":3" /> She first appeared on Australian television on the show From Outer Space, and later appeared on The Bobby Limb Show<ref name=":6"/> and In Melbourne Tonight.<ref name=":0" /> She became a star of the Victoria Television circuit and her first hit, "Come Closer to Me", became part of a collection on which she was billed as one of the "Grand Dames of Victorian Radio and Television".Template:Cn She also recorded at least three LPs in the late 1950s and early 1960s: Pilita with Arthur Young: Pilita Tells the Story of Love (1959),<ref name=":6" /> I'll Take Romance (1960)<ref name=":6" /> and This Is Pilita under Astor Records.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref> Being one of the pioneers of Australia's early television years, a street was named after her in Victoria. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) featured Corrales and several pioneering female artists in Australia in the 2nd episode of the highly acclaimed TV special, Love is in the Air. Template:Cn

In the Philippines

Corrales returned to Manila in 1963 to pursue a career in the Philippine music industry.<ref name=":3" /> That same year, she recorded her hit "A Million Thanks to You".<ref name=":4" /> Her Philippine career began when she hosted a radio program La Taverna over DZPI where she sang Spanish songs and played the guitar.<ref name=":5" /> She performed regularly in stage shows at the Manila Grand Opera House.Template:Cn In 1966, she opened for The Beatles during their concert at Manila's Rizal Memorial Stadium.<ref name=":4" /> By 1967, she was hosting the TV program An Evening With Pilita on Channel 3.<ref name=":11">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Corrales appeared in movies, most of them musicals. Her film debut was a lead role in the 1967 film Miss Wawaw<ref name=":11" /> and was followed by 11 films for the next two years.Template:Cn

In 1972, Corrales' career exploded with the release of her album Philippine Love Songs, a compilation of pop covers of traditional songs, through Vicor Music. The album became a best seller.<ref name=":5" /> Among the songs on the album was "Kapantay ay Langit", George Canseco's Filipino translation of "You're All I Love".Template:Cn That year, she also performed at the inaugural Tokyo Music Festival, where she won the Best Performer award.<ref name=":8" /> At the 2nd edition of the festival in 1973, she won the award for Best Singer.<ref name=":9">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Aquarius Records Philippines produced a compilation of Pilita's Spanish songs on CDs like Noche de Ronda and Vaya Con Dios. Her signature song A Million Thanks to You by Alice Doria-Gamilla was translated into seven languages. She eventually recorded songs composed by Filipino composers like Danny Holmsen, George Canseco, Willy Cruz, Ryan Cayabyab and several others.Template:Cn

Corrales frequently performed for Seeing Stars with Joe Quirino on IBC-Channel 13 after the martial law years (1972–1981), where she demonstrated her range as a performer of Spanish, English, Cebuano and Tagalog music.Template:Cn

Through the personal invitation of Sammy Davis Jr., Corrales became the first Filipino to sing at Caesars Palace in the late 1970s, during which she sang Spanish, English, Cebuano, and Tagalog songs, all conducted and arranged by Ryan Cayabyab.Template:Cn

By 2006, she operated a restaurant bar in Greenhills named Pilita's.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2006, Corrales was selected by Associated Broadcasting Company (ABC Channel 5, now TV5, formerly The 5 Network) and FremantleMedia to be one of the celebrity judges for the first-ever nationwide search for the Philippine Idol together with Ryan Cayabyab and rapper Francis Magalona.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She was a judge in the first Asian Idol held in Indonesia, representing Philippine Idol.<ref name=":10">Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal life and death

Corrales had two children, Jackie Lou Blanco<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Ramon Christopher Gutierrez, who also became actors.Template:Cn Corrales was married in 1963 to the Spanish executive businessman Jose Blanco and separated while Jackie Lou was still a child. Jose died in 1979.<ref name=":7" />

Corrales gave birth to her second child, Ramón Christopher Gutierrez, in 1971, known to be the father of Janine Gutierrez.Template:Cn Ramón Christopher's father is Filipino actor Eddie Gutierrez.<ref name=":7" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Corrales also had an adopted son, VJ.Template:Cn Her nephew is Martin Nievera, also a singer.

In September 2001, Corrales married Paraguayan/Australian businessman Carlos López.<ref name=":7" />

Corrales died in her sleep at her residence on April 12, 2025. She was 87.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On May 4, Corrales was posthumously conferred with the Presidential Medal of Merit from President Bongbong Marcos for her services to the arts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref
N/A	Port of Escape		Shot in 1960; unfinished
1967	Miss Wawaw		Directed by Efren Reyes	<ref name=":11" />
1988	Mirror, Mirror on the Wall	Caring / Caridad
1994	Mars Ravelo's Darna! Ang Pagbabalik	Valentina
2014	Bride for Rent	Avelina "Lala" Corazon
	Basement	Lola Meding
	My Illegal Wife	Lala
2016	Enteng Kabisote 10 and the Abangers

Television

Year	Title	Role	Ref
1964–1972	Your Evening with Pilita	Host
	Dance O Rama
	Seeing Stars with Joe Quirino
	Awitawanan
1985–1988	Ang Bagong Kampeon	Host, together with Bert Marcelo
1988-1993	Tanghalan Ng Kampeon
1988, 1993	Ryan Ryan Musikahan	Guest Performer
1990–1993	Mag-Asawa'y Di Biro
	Awitanghalan
2003–2007	Lagot Ka, Isusumbong Kita	Rosa/Mamita
2006	Philippine Idol	Judge
2007	Love Spell Presents: Cindy-rella
	Celebrity Duets Season 1	Duet partner for Frederick Peralta
	Asian Idol	Judge	<ref name=":10" />
2008	Celebrity Duets Season 2	Duet partner for Bayani Fernando
	Talentadong Pinoy	Judge
	Show Me Da Manny
2009–2010	Full House	Anita Lazatin
2010–2011	My Driver Sweet Lover	Maximilliana "Abuela Maxi" Barrinuevo
	Toda Max	Lola Momsie
2012	The X Factor Philippines	Judge	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2013–2016	Vampire Ang Daddy Ko	Sonya Ventura
February 28, 2015	Maynila: YOLO si LOLA
February 25, 2016	Eat Bulaga!: Just Duet	Performer
March 12, 2016	Maynila: My Classmate
September 11, 2016	Hay, Bahay!	Amelia
2018	Sana Dalawa ang Puso	Leonora Chavez (guest cast)
2019, 2023	Bravo Executive Lounge	Guest Performer
2020	Tawag ng Tanghalan Season 4	Judge
2020–2021	Kesayasaya	Mommy G

Discography

Albums

Australia

• Come Closer to Me
• Pilita with Arthur Young: I'll Take Romance (1960, Astor Records)
• This Is Pilita
• Pilita Tells the Story of Love

Philippines (including albums released internationally)

• Pilita, Live at the Riviera (recorded in Hong Kong in 1976)
• Pilita, Live at the Riviera Vol. 2 (recorded in Hong Kong in 1976)
• Pilita, Live at the Riviera Vol. 3 (recorded in Hong Kong in 1977)
• Pilita, Now
• Pilita Sings
• Para Ti Mama
• Love
• Pilita in Motion
• Pilita Corrales: Greatest Hits
• Pilita: Greatest Hits Vol. 2
• Matud Nila (Cebuano)
• Philippine Love Songs
• Philippine Love Songs Vol. 2
• Kapantay Ay Langit
• A Song for You
• Sampaguita
• Best of Philippine Pop Songs
• Sa Tanang Panahon (mostly Cebuano versions of Tagalog songs)
• Minamahal, Sinasamba
• Oh La La! (1971)
• For Love's Sake Only (1971)
• Pilita in Tokyo (1972)
• Filipiniana (1972, Vicor)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
• Pilita: The Queen of Songs (Ang Mutya ng Awit)
• Pilita, Christmas Special
• Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan?
• The Best of Philippine Music
• Salakot
• Pagsapit ng Pasko
• Araw-araw, Gabi-gabi
• Pilita: Visayan Love Songs Vol. 1 (Cebuano)
• Pilita Sings George (If I Had My Life to Live Again)
• Pilita: Great Songs from Filipino Movies
• Sa Aking Pag-iisa
• Walang Pagmamaliw
• Pilita Sings...Love Themes from Viva Films
• Pilita y Amado en Español
• Pilita Y Amado en Español, Vol. 2
• Pilita Goes Pop (OctoArts now PolyEast Records, 1990)
• Ang Nag-iisang si Pilita (Viva Records, 1994)
• Together at Last (with Elmo Makuil) (Quantum Music Corporation, 1996)
• When My Eyes Are Filled with Tears (Dyna Records)
• The Best of Love Duets (Viva Collection Forever) (Viva Records, 1998)
• Pilita Corrales Sings Visayan Songs (Cebuano) (Villar)
• If You Go Away
• Hoy
• Pilita y los mensajeros del Paraguay
• Viajar ("Travel")
• Abrázame ("Embrace Me")
• Yukbo sa Bisayanhong Awit (Cebuano and Ilonggo duet album with Susan Fuentes)
• A Million Thanks to You

Recorded songs

• "A Million Thanks to You"
• "Ako Raw ay Makasalanan"
• "Ampingan Mo Ba"
• "Ang Dalaga Noon at Ngayon"
• "Ang Diwa ng Pasko"
• "Ang Kawayan"
• "Ang Pag-ibig"
• "Ang Pag-ibig ay Mahiwaga"
• "Ang Pipit"
• "Ang Tangi Kong Pag-ibig"
• "Apat na Dahilan"
• "Awit ng Labandera"
• "Awit ng Mananahi"
• "Ay Pag-ibig"
• "Ay, Ay, Ay Pag-ibig"
• "Ayaw nang Magmahal"
• "Bakas ng Lumipas"
• "Bakasin Mo sa Gunita"
• "Bakit Kita Inibig"
• "Balud sa Kalimot"
• "Balut"
• "Baryo Fiesta"
• "Basta't Magkasama Tayo"
• "Basta't Mahal Kita"
• "Bisan sa Damgo Lang"
• "Buhat"
• "Bulak Akong Bukidnon"
• "Cariñosa"
• "Come Close and Love Me"
• "Dahil sa Isang Bulaklak"
• "Dahil sa Iyo"
• "Dalagang Pilipina"
• "Dalagang Pilipinhon"
• "Dalawang Filipina"
• "Di Ko Kasalanan"
• "Di na Iibig"
• "Dili na Mausab"
• "Gipangita Ko Ikaw"
• "Goodbye"
• "Had I Known It"
• "Hanggang Langit Mahal Kita"
• "Hinahanap Kita"
• "Hinugpong nga Mga Awit"
• "Hiwaga ng Pag-ibig"
• "Huling Halakhak"
• "Ibong Kakanta-kanta"
• "If I Had My Life to Live Again"
• "Iibigin Ka"
• "Ikaw ang Mahal Ko"
• "Ikaw Na Lamang"
• "Iniibig Kita"
• "Ipagdarasal Kita"
• "Irog Ako ay Mahalin"
• "Isumbong Ko Ikaw sa Langit"
• "Iyong-iyo Kailan pa Man"
• "Kahit Sino Ka Man"
• "Kamingaw Gayud"
• "Kapantay ay Langit" (original by Amapola in 1970)
• "Kataka-taka"
• "Katulog na Inday"
• "Kay Hirap ng Umibig"
• "Kay Langit Ko ang Gugma Mo"
• "Kung Batid Mo Lamang"
• "Kung Kita'y Kapiling"
• "Kung Nagsasayaw Kita"
• "Lahat ng Araw"
• "Lahat ng Gabi Bawat Araw"
• "Lahat ng Oras"
• "Lamok"
• "Landas sa Pag-ibig"
• "Larawan ng Pag-ibig"
• "Let's Forget the Time"
• "Lihim na Damdamin"
• "Lonely Nights"
• "Luluha Ka Rin"
• "Maalaala Mo Kaya"
• "Magandang Gabi Po"
• "Mahal Kita Hanggang Langit"
• "Mahal Mo Ba Ako?"
• "Mahiwaga"
• "Mamang Tsuper"
• "Mangga"
• "Mano Po Ninong"
• "Matagal na Rin"
• "Matud Nila"
• "May Ibong Kakanta Kanta"
• "Minamahal Kita"
• "Minamahal Ko Siya"
• "Minsan Ay Nakasama Kita"
• "Nahigwa-os"
• "No puede ser" (Spanish version of "Minamahal Kita")
• "O Maliwanag na Buwan"
• "Paano"
• "Pag-ibig Ikaw ang Dahilan"
• "Pagka't Kapiling Ka"
• "Pagkadali"
• "Pasko sa Nayon"
• "Patatawarin Kita"
• "Pilipinas"
• "Pobreng Alindahaw"
• "Porbida"
• "Puto Kutsinta"
• "Rosas Pandan"
• "Sa Araw ng Pasko (Ikaw Lang ang Siyang Kailangan)"
• "Sa Bawat Sandali"
• "Sa Libis ng Nayon"
• "Saan Ka Man Naroroon"
• "Salakot"
• "Salamat sa Alaala"
• "Sampaguita"
• "Sana Kahit Minsan" (original by Ariel Rivera)
• "Sapagkat Ikaw ay Akin"
• "Sapagkat Kami ay Tao Lamang"
• "Sapagkat Malapit Na"
• "Sayaw sa Ilaw"
• "Sayo sa Kabuntagon"
• "Sinumpa Ko sa Diyos"
• "Sumpang Walang Hanggan"
• "Tama Na"
• "The Shadow of Your Smile" (live in Toronto)
• "Titibok-Tibok"
• "Together"
• "Together at Last" (duet with Elmo Makil)
• "Tugoti Kami"
• "Tunay na Tunay"
• "Ulilang Puso"
• "Walang Kapantay"
• "When Eyes Are Filled with Tears"
• "Yesterday I Heard the Rain"
• "Noche de Ronda"
• "Vaya con Dios"
• "Historia de un amor"
• "Abrázame"
• "Obsesión"
• "Gracias amigo"
• "Solamente una vez"
• "Espérame en el cielo"
• "La foto"
• "Hasta el fin de mi existir"
• "Con estas manos"
• "Filipinas"
• "Tema del padrino"
• "Grande, grande, grande"
• "A flor de piel"
• "Quisiera saber"
• "Desde que tú has ido"
• "Tu sonrisa"
• "Concierto de un otoño"
• "Perfidia"
• "Aldila"
• "Angustia"
• "Río rebelde"
• "Voy"
• "Amor"
• "Waray-Waray"
• "Nganong Mipakita Ka"
• "Sayri Ako"
• "Ngano Ba Gugma"
• "Ampinging mga Bulak"
• "Ilingaw-Lingaw Lang"
• "Mao Ba Kini ang Gugma"
• "Hain Ka na Pinangga"
• "Uhaw sa Gugma"

Awards and honors

• 1965 Philippine Citizen's Award for TV as Best TV Female Performer<ref name=":0" />
• Best Performer Award, 1972 Tokyo Music Festival<ref name=":8">Template:Cite web</ref>
• Best Singer Award, 1973 Tokyo Music Festival<ref name=":9" />
• 1990 Merit Award, the FAMAS Awards<ref name=":0" />
• 1991 Lifetime Achievement Award, the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI), for introducing Filipino musical artistry to a global audience<ref name=":0" />
• 2024 Billboard Philippines Women in Music Icon Award<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Honorary Doctorate in Music degree, the University of the Visayas, for her contribution to the Philippine music industry<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Awit Award, PARI<ref name=":0" />
• Recognized as one of the 'Great Dames of Victorian Radio and Television' and has a street named after her in Melbourne, Australia<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_Medal_of_Merit_(Philippines)

External links

• Astor Records, Australia
• Template:Imdb name
• Template:Discogs artist
• She's leaving home (Love is in the air, ABC TV-Australia)
• Vicor Music Corporation
• Cebu’s divas
• Even Canseco was rejected, Pilita remembers by Nini Valera
• Olivia Newton-John at the 1st Tokyo Music Festival
• Kinks sa‘PI' auditions, areglado na
• Beyond Birit
• RP Idol's First Yield
• Toronto Canada Pilita Corrales Special International Guest 2011 & 2014 Hosted by Radio & Television Producer Joel Recla.